A friend in Shamat (Safdar Hashmi Memorial) asked me last week, to name a few films which ran into trouble with censors in recent years–I could find three from South India and with Empuran-the Malayalam film the list expands. I am sharing this open letter of Sabin Iqbal, himself a writer and friend of Empuran’s screenplay writer Murali Gopi.. As the film made Mohanlal, the megastar apologize in general for creating issues with politics of the Hinduvtva, I was forced to see it yesterday before they impose the self-imposed cuts on Gujarat riots etc and modify the film which is already in the theatre. As a media man in Delhi from the 80s, one has been hearing that you don’t understand North Indian politics, as it is not black and white like what you think and always points out to layers like Hindu-I Muslim-caste, region–families and the terrible feudal mix we have. But the Empuran writer has gone about writing about Gujarat riots as black and white a revenge story taking pot shots not just at BJP, but at Kerala’s CPIM-Congress etc all.. Maybe the writer’s years as a journalist in Kerala, gave him some ringside view.. But even that view has grown beyond cynical jibes as each of the parties have gone complex in their approach to issues, be it CPIM -Congress or BJP in Kerala. And Keralitess’ think the world begins with Middle East , and then James bond take over with MI6 and can have a fight over African and other territories like a computer game.And a Mallu from an orphanage in hilly district who grew up to an MLA in Kerala can have a role in all that international scenario with a funny name Qureshi Abram…Yes there is no question in a fictional story about realities, but even the worst of Hollywood films, which goes for international storyline does its research and will not inflict pain on your common sense and make us smile..The MI6 boss, speaking on a secret line to the “Qureshi”…from his office makes one smile…Qureshi by way as I understand is a butcher class of N Indian Muslims I am told. And the writer wants us to believe that Qureshi and Kerala MLA with a Christian name are the same..And can appear and disappear from Kerala, and the Middle East (thank Allah) just like that and have an action in the Iraq and Senegal border, with helicopter gunships…There is a limit to mixing up computer games with hard realities and people.. Worst no one in their wildest dreams could have visualized Gujarat riots as a revenge story. Spending Rs 200 crores to make a film based on such a screenplay is indeed courageous and ending up at the mercy of ruling political hawks at the centre in the process is pathetic…All one can say is grow up mallus please.. we are no longer in a cynical, make-belief world. The real India has changed.. no more pot shots at your favorite or not so favorite politicos–we are in an Orwellian country.
